Kelechi Iheanacho is making headlines at Bursaspor just two months after he arrived in Turkey. The Super Eagles striker is now one game away from breaking a club record that has stood for over a decade.
Iheanacho scored twice on Saturday as Bursaspor beat Batman Petrolspor 2-1 in an away match in the Turkish 1 Lig. This win pushed the club to the top of the league table.
With those two goals, his total rose to 11 goals and two assists in just eight league matches. Iheanacho has scored in every league game since he joined the team.
His recent goals also extended his scoring streak to eight matches, tying the Bursaspor record set by Brazilian striker Fernandao in the 2014/15 Süper Lig season.
Fernandao scored in eight straight league matches between rounds 12 and 19 during the 2014/15 season. His scoring run ended in early 2015 after he netted 13 goals in 18 league games.
The Brazilian kicked off that streak against Kasımpaşa in November 2014 and finished it against Gençlerbirliği in January 2015.
He ended that season with 22 league goals and seven assists. Now, more than ten years later, Iheanacho has matched that record, even though he is playing in Turkey’s second division.
Before this, Iheanacho had already set a personal best by scoring in six straight matches. His brace against Manisa FK on September 7 boosted that streak.
In his last three matches, he has scored against Manisa FK, Esenler Erokspor, and Batman Petrolspor. This achievement brings him even with Fernandao's eight-game scoring run.
Iheanacho now has a chance to make Bursaspor history. If he finds the net in his next league match, he will break Fernandao’s record and set a new club record for consecutive matches with a goal.
His goals have helped Bursaspor start the season strong. After Saturday's win, the club has 19 points from their first eight matches, placing them at the top of the Turkish second division.
Bursaspor has achieved six wins and one draw in those eight games, giving them a three-point lead over Kayserispor, who have played one match less.
Iheanacho joined Bursaspor this summer as a free agent after a successful time at Celtic in Scotland.
He helped Celtic win the league and cup double before moving to Turkey, and his impact has been quick.
Now, just months into his time at Bursaspor, Iheanacho is challenging one of the club's long-standing scoring records.
This strong performance comes at a good time for his international career. Iheanacho has been selected for Nigeria’s squad for a friendly against Russia next month.
This is his first call-up in over a year, giving him a chance to impress Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle as he seeks to return to the national team. His last match with the Super Eagles was at the 2025 Unity Cup in London.
With his confidence high and goals coming easily in Turkey, Iheanacho hopes his return to the Super Eagles can help him get back into the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group and possibly the squad for next year's championship.
For now, another piece of Bursaspor history is within his grasp. One more goal could make Iheanacho the first player in the club’s history to score in nine consecutive league matches.
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